Air-tight door for cabinets



July 21, 1931. H. F. BEERs AIR TIGHT DOOR FOR CABINETS Filed Dec. 18. 1929 INVENTOR. Y Beers ATTO NEY il!! anni; infill Patented July 21, 1931 HARRY Bia-Ens, or PELHAM, NEW-YORK Application `filed December 18, 1929. Serial No.'414,903.

g tion relates particularly to' cabinets for use in ldisplay ing samples or specimens ofva rious kinds and classes and particularly to improvements in doors of the class specified such as described and claimed byl me in my prior Patent No. v1,075,622 granted October 14, 1918; andthe object of my invention is te` provide an improved and simplified means for A'securely clamping` a door to the cabinet in such manner as to conceal said securing andclampngmeans and thus enhance the outer appearance of the cabinet and door of the cabinet as a? Whole; a further object being tofprovide means involving a detachable tool orhandle member for moving the locking elements of the door into inoperative position and for facilitating the movement of the door into-position to slide the same laterally with respect tothe front open end of the cabinet `to obtain access to the interior of the cabinet; a further objectbeing'to provide a. door construction for cabinets which are preferably arranged in pairs, each pair beingcoupled together as a unit, and means being provided tomove each door of the cabinets intofposition infront of the other door Whenever desired in gaining `'access It either section of the cabinet; a further object being to provide improved Ymeans for guiding the doors in their sliding movement; `and 'With these and other obje-cts in View, the invention consists in a door structure 'oftheclass described and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, eiiicient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

rlhe invention is fully Vdisclosed in the following specification, of Which the accompanying drawings forms a part, 1n which the separate parts of my `improvement are designated bv suitable reference characters in'each of the views. and in Whichzj Fig. 1 is a front view vof the upper 'endportion of a part of a complete cabinetv unit 'in dicatingI one complete door with part's'of the construction broken away.;

Fig. 2 is avertical, sectional vievv ofthe upper endportionof the cabinet, parts of theconstruction being shown in full lines and other parts in section and illustrating the doorj in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a sec-tional, detail vieiv ofa part of thestructure shown in Fig. 2, but showing thedoor inl closed position.

Fig. Lisis a sectional, plan vieW on the line i-Jl ofFig.V 1 with part of the Construction broken away; and, Y

Fig. 5 isa sectional detail vievv'ontheline 5'-5 of Fig. ligand on an enlarged scale.

Vhile myV invention relates primarily to specimen displaying cabinets such as are commonly employed in museums and other public institutions, it will be understood that the same'may be' applied to cabinets for'anyuse or purpose,especially Where it is desirable to retain the doors 'of the cabinets in iirm engagement Wit-h thel cabinet -proper to effect-a seal therebetween;

In the accompanying drawings, I have indicated at a partof one complete cabinet unit which preferably consists of tivo-sections 11 and 12, the upper endportion of the section 11, being complet-e Whereas only part of the. section 12 is shown, theg saine being identical With the section 11. For this reason, the brief description of one section will apply'to the other. A

Each section has an--end Wall 13 `and this Wall in the construction Vshown terminates at its outer or front end ina channel-shaped post 14 of relatively heavy material in the bottom of the channel fof which is arranged a seal ypad `or-strip 15. One arm 16 ofthe post isflonger than Ithe other=arm 17. The arm lf'r'ms the outervivall of the post and is preferably faced' Witha thin facing strip or sheet 18 'channeled' as seen at 18a Ito receive the Wall 13.V The arm-17 is provided with tivo or morev vertically Yinclined notches' '17a by Vmeans of Whichfthfe door 19 may be clamped in position'as later described, The adjacentendsof thesections 11 and 12 are providedl at'tliefrontend of the cabinet With verticalposts QO-QOa channel-shaped in cross sectional form and 'ce'upledtogether and 4finished vby `a relatively thin `strip 20o on the inner open ends of said channels, and secured to the outer posts thereof is a U- shaped finishing strip 21 which forms a large channel, in the base of which is a packing or sealing strip and the side walls of said channel are folded upon themselves as seen at 21a to give strength thereto, and these walls are also provided with notches not shown arranged in alinement with and corresponding to the notches 17a.

The doors 19 of each section are identical in construction. Therefore the brief description of one will apply to the other. rl'hese doors consist of a glass panel 19a mounted in channel portions 19?) of a door frame 2S which is L-shaped in cross sectional form, said frame being composed of a relatively heavy angle iron part 23a and a facing sheet 236 as clearly seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings. At this time, it will be noted that the inwardly directed arm of the frame 23 is adapted to engage the packing or sealing strips 15 and 22 disposed at opposite sides of the door as well as similar strips 22a and 22?) arranged at the top and bottom of the cabinet as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

It will be noted that the transverse dimensions of the door 19 including the frame 23 are less than the corresponding dimensions of the cabinet section in conjunction with which the door operates. rl`his provides a clearance space 24 between the side edges of the door and the part 16 of the posts of the cabinet, and a similar space 24a between adjacent ends of the frames 23 of each door. Secured to the outer side walls of the frames 23 and arranged within the spaces 24--24a are bracket posts 25, one of which is clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, which form bearings for a rivet pin or screw 2G which secures and retains an arm 27 against displacement from the frame 23 and also forms a pivot permitting the swinging movement ofthe arm 27, a collar 2S being arranged outwardly of the frame and'inwardlj.' of the bracket 25, said collar having` fiat sides 28a, note Fig. 3, to receive the yoke-shaped jaw 2S) of an operating tool and handle member 30 detachable with respect to said collar.

Secured to the frame 23 at vertically spaced intervals are guide pins 31, the inner ends of which are headed as seen at 31, and collars 315 are arranged on said pins to provide guides for the movement of a lock bar 32 which extends substantially the full height of the door and is arranged within the side wall thereof and is also arranged within the channels 14 and 21 when the door is in closed position. Pivoted to the lock bar 82 as seen at 33 is a link 34 which is also pivoted to the free end of the arm 27 as seen at 85. ln rotatine' said arm, the link 34 will cause the bar 32 to move upwardly and downwardly depending upon the direction of rotation of said arm, and this movement of the lock bar is islaam facilitated by providing elongated apertures 32a therein in which the pins 31 are free to move.

The bar 32 is provided with inwardly projecting lock pins 36 which are so arranged as to register with the lower open end of the notches 17a of the arm 17, and corresponding notches in the part 21a of the channel 21, and to move upwardly in said notches in the operation of closing and clamping the door in firm engagement with the cabinet, the inclination of the notches functioning as cams to facilitate this clamping action, it being understood that when the arm 27 is rot-ated through the hand grip or tool 80, the pins 3G will be forced upwardly in the notches by the movement imparted to the lock bar and this operation continues until the door has been securely clamped or wedged in position, the inner ends of the frame 23 being forced into the sealing pads or strips 15-22-22a and 22?).

It will be understood that both of the lock bars 32 are of similar construction and the above description of one will apply to the other, each side of the door structure being identical in construction. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when the door is in closed position, the tools 30 are removed, thus leaving a very neat and finished appearance to the door structure of the cabinet as well as the cabinet as av whole. The only thing that is visible are the brackets 25 and the sleeves 28 arranged in the recesses 24 and 24a.

Extending longitudinally of the top front wall of the cabinet and over both sections 11 and 12 is a substantially box-shaped housing 37 made up of two substantially L-shaped strips 38 and 39, the strip 38 constituting the front and top walls of the housing 37 whereas the strip 39 constitutes the back and bottom wall. rlhe front edge of the bottom wall 39a of the strip 39 terminates short of the lower edge of the front wall 88a of the strip 38 to form an aperture 40 extending longitudinally of the housing 37. At spaced intervals, the bottom wall 39 is cut out to form backwardly extending apertures 39?) through which door hanging brackets 41 are free to pass in moving the door into closed position. Two of these brackets are preferably employed on each door 19 as seen in Fig. 1 of the d awings Said brackets are secured to the upper edge of the door and when the door is moved outwardly the standards of said brackets are free to slide back and forth in the apertures 40.

Each bracket 41 carries within the housing 37 a channel-shaped bar 42 in connection with which is mounted a plurality of ball castors 43, two of said castors being disposed at each side of the bracket 41, and these castors are free to slide upon the upper face of the bottom wall 39a of the housing 37, the

usiamo? front'` edge offsaid Wallbeing .turned upwardly to form a lrounded 'seat'39awhich lim its the outward movement'ofthecastors 43. and 1 providesior `a free andeasy sliding movement fof the door,retaining the brackets llas well'asthebars 421m spaced relation with respect tofthe walls Ofthehousing 37.

In the useof `my'improved cabinet.' and door construction therefor, and I assuming thatlthe doors are in closed position when it is desired to release .one of the doors, two of the hand grips or toolsBOY are coupled with the Acollars 28' at each side of the door by coupling the tools therewith in the manner seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings,after which'the hand grippingE portions .of said tools are laised'into thefpo'sition shown in Fig. 2, in which operation, the lockbars 32' ateach side of the door are moved downwardly, thus releasing the door, and bythe aid of the handle members 30, the door may be moved forwardly to bring the. brackets 4l lin alinement with, they aperture 40', thus permitting the sliding movementof the door to one side of the cabinetand over or in. frontof the other door -as said side of the ,cabinet,-thelatter being in closed position. In this connection, it will be understood that"'suricient `-outward 'movef ment of the door in the'housing 37 will be provided to .permit thefree sliding v`movement of one door with respect to the other.

When it is desiredto. againclose the cab-.- inet, the open door .is moved into proper position in frontof thecabinetnnd ythen 'moved inwardly, in which operation, the brackets 4l'pass through' the apertures 39?) and the pins 36 pass into the notches 17a, and the handle members 30 are then moveddownwardly to raise the lock `bars 3Q )and to move the pins 'upwardly in said notches, which operation moves thedoor inwardly into {irmly sealed position.

In the foregoingoper-ation of "opening the door and moving the tools or handle members l 30 into the position shown in Fig. l, it will be understood that the offset :shoulder portions 30a on said vmembers engage the brackets 25 to permit the slight lifting of theidoor to ease its outward movement and further operate to clamp said members against displacement from the door until 'theyhave been moved into the position shown-in Fig. 3, in which position they may be freely removed. In. ap-

, paratus vof the class under consideration, it is customary to lock the cabinet doors, and 'at least two of 'the handle members SO'maybe kept with the 'keys of such Vlockfand taken with the keys to facilitate thejoperation of opening the door as willlbe apparent.

While I 'have shown certain `details of constructionffor carrying my invention into effeet, it will be understood that I am not necessarily limited vto thesedetails nor to any spec-incluse .of the structure herein disclosed, and other changes in and modifications of the invention herein shown anddescribed may be made within the scopev of theappen'ded claims withoutl departing from the spirit .of my invention Lor sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I-claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A doorrstructu're fory cabinets of? the class described, said door including inwardly directed top, bottom and side wall members, the cabinet having channels into which the sidewall members of the door are adapted to pass, lmean/s arranged in Asaid channels and inwardly'ofthe side wall members of said door for Acoupling the door with the cabinet structureand for `irmly retain-ing the same in closedI position, and a member'in operative engagementwith said first named means and projecting through they side wall Vof the doorI and `arranged in said 'channel whereby said means may be moved into operative and inoperative position by a -tool detachably coupled lwith respect to said member.

2. ln'cabinets o'fthe class described, two cabinetv sections, the outer side `walls' of `said sections having channel members, the channels of which are directed outwardly andthe adjacent sides of isaid sections-having a comparatively large channel opening outwardly through the-front of the cabinet, two door members ofsimilar construction arranged to movetoward and Vfrom eachv `of said sections and longitudinallywith respect thereto, each of said .doors having inwardly directed wall membersadapted to engage sealing pads `at the bottom of said channels to effect a seal betweenthe doors and cabinet, a lock bar arranged withinthe side walls of each door, means for coupling said bar with said walls to permit movement of said bars longitudinallylwit-h respect thereto,an arm pivoted to each side wall and coupled with the adjacent lockfbars through a coupling linkand the pivot of each of said arms extending through the side walls of the door and being normally arranged inthe channels of said cabinet, and means whereby a suitable tool may be coupled with saidpivots to rotate the same and impart movements to said lockfbars in the ope adjacent' sides' of said sections having a comparatively large channel opening outwardly through the front of the cabinet, two door members of similar constructionarranged to movetoward and from each of said sections and `longitudinally with respect thereto, each of said doorsV having inwardly directed wall' members `adapted to engage sealing pads at .the Vbottrnn of said channels to effect a seal between the doors and cabinet, a4 lock 1.,..

bararranged within vthe side walls of each door, means for coupling said bar with said wall to permit movement of said bars longitudinally with respect thereto, an arm pivoted to each side wall and coupled with the adjacent lock bar through a coupling link, and the pivot of each of said arms extending through the side walls of the door and being normally arranged in the channels of said cabinet, means whereby a suitable tool may be coupled with said pivots to rotate the same and impart movement to said lock bars in the operation of opening and closing said doors, and said lock bars including coupling pins adapted to enter notches formed in one of the side walls of each of said channels, the arrangement of said notches being such as to provide a. cani-like action which will operate to draw the doors inwardly into firm engagement with the cabinet.

4. A door for cabinets of the class specified said door comprising side wall members arranged angularly with respect to the front wall thereof, lock bars arranged within the side walls of said door and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, a plurality of members spaced longitudinally of said loch bars adapted to be moved into engagement with parts of said cabinet and coupling the door therewith and in the movement of said bars with respect to said walls, and means projecting through the side walls of the door and in operative engagement with said bars whereby said bars may be moved into posi tion to couple and uiicouple the doors with respect to the cabinet, said last named means involving a pivot pin having a squared collar arranged outwardly of said walls whereby suitable tools may be coupled therewith to impart rotary movement to said pins.

A door for cabinets of the class specified said dooi comprising side wall members arranged angularly with respect to the front wall thereof, lock bars arranged within the side walls of said door and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, a plurality of members spaced longitudinally of said lock bars adapted to be moved into engagement with parts of said cabinet and coupling the door therewith and in the movement of said bars with respect to said walls, means projecting through the side walls of the door and in operative engagement with said bars whereby said bars may be moved into position to couple and uncouple the doors with respect to the cabinet, said last named means involving a pivot pin having a squared collar arranged outwardly of said walls whereby suitable tools may be coupled therewith to impart rotary movement to said pins, and arms on said pins within said walls and coupled with said bar.` through coupling links.

6. A door for cabinets of the class specified said door comprising side wall members arranged aiigularly with respect to the front wall thereof, lock bars arranged within the side walls of said door and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, a plurality of members spaced longitudinally of said lock bars adapted to be moved into engagement with parts of said cabinet and coupling the door therewith and in the movement of said bars with respect to said walls, means projecting through the side walls of the door and in operative engagement with said bars whereby said bars may be moved into position to couple and uiicouple the doors with respect to the cabinet, said last named means involving a pivot pin having a squared collar arranged outwardly of said walls whereby suitable tools may be coupled therewith to impart rotary movement to said pins, arms on said pins within said walls and coupled with said bars through coupling links, and means attached to the outer surfaces of said sid` walls for providing bearings for the outer ends of said pins.

7. A door for cabinet-s of the class specified said door comprising side wall members arranged angularly with respect to the front wall thereof, lock bars arranged within the side walls of said door and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, a plurality of members spaced longitudinally of said lock bars adapted to be moved into engagement with parts of said cabinet and coupling the door therewith and in the movement of said bars with respect to said walls, means projecting through the side walls of the door and in operative engagement with said bars whereby said bars may be moved into position to couple and uiicouple the doors with respect to the cabinet, said last named means involving a pivot pin having a squared collar arranged outwardly of said walls whereby suitable tools may be coupled therewith to impart rotary movement to said pins, arms on said pins within said walls and coupled with said bars through coupling links, means attached to the outer surfaces of said side walls for piovidiiig bearings for the outer ends of said pins, and the upper end of the door having spaced brackets attached thereto and projecting upwardly above the door` and means for supporting a plurality of ball castors in connection with said brackets.

8. A cabinet structure for doors of the class specified comprising two cabinet sections, the side walls of said sections having standards which are channel-shaped in cross sectional form, the channelsbeing directed outwardly with respect to the front of the cabinet, another comparatively large channel arranged at the adjacent sides of said sections and opening outwardly with respect to the front thereof, one side wall of the first named channels having spaced notches inclined upwardly and opening outwardly through the forward ends of said walls, and corresponding notches arranged in each of the side walls of the second named channel whereby the doors fissi responding notches arranged in each of the side walls of the second named channel whereby the doors of each of said sections may be coupled therewith, said doors including lock bars arranged within the side walls of said doors, the said bars having pins adapted to enter the notches in the respective channels in moving the doors inwardly into firm engagement with said sections.

l0. A cabinet structure for doors of the class specified comprising two cabinet sections, the side walls of said sections having standards which are channel-shaped in cross sectional form, the channels being directed outwardly with respect to the front of the cabinet, another comparatively large channel arranged at the adjacent sides of said sections and opening outwardly with respect to the front thereof, said side wall of the first named channels having spaced notches inclined upwardly and opening outwardly through the forward ends of said walls, corresponding notches arranged in each of the side walls of the second named channel whereby the doors of each of said sections may be coupled therewith, said doors including lock bars arranged within the side walls of said doors, the said bars having pins adapted to enter the notches in the respective channels in moving the doors inwardly into irm engagement with said sections, and means outwardly of the side walls of each door and accessible within said channels for moving the lock bar into operative and inoperative positions.

ll. A door structure for cabinets of the class described, said door including inwardly directed top, bottom and side wall members, the cabinet having channels of a depth substantially equal to the width of the side wall members of the door and into which said side wall members are adapted to pass, and means arranged in said channels and inwardly of the side wall members of said door for coupling the door with the cabinet structure and for firmly retaining the same in closed position.

12. A door structure for cabinets of the class described, said door including inwardly 1%65 directed top, bottom and side wall members,

through the forward ends of said walls, corthe y cabinet i havingt ch annels4 of a. depth sub- 'stantially. equal 1 to the width ,of the` sidewall ,fmembersof the door and into whichsaidside wall members .are adapted .to pass, means f arranged :in lsaid f channels and ,inwardly of .the .side wall -nmmibersA of Vsaid door sfor A cou- (plingfthe door with the cabinetstru cture-,and for irnilyfretaining the same,infclosedposiftion, and-famembeninY operative engagement writ-hy said ,f ifi-rst s named means and proj ecting through reach side wall .of the ldoor .and arranged :in 'said lchannels whereby said Vmeans-maybe moved into. operative Vand inopenativepositions.

13. ,-'A door structure .for i cabinets :of :the classdescribed, said-cabinet `having.verticalfly arranged channels opening outwardly Awith-respect to-the-ront of. the cabinet,-said door having inwardly directed.wall-members .adaptedx togpass into saidchannels, .and :of a .width -si'ibstantially--egual ,to .the .width .of

the side -walls Yof said 1 channels, a .lock .bar imovlablfycmounted in iconnection with `the .inner -facesl of each. of .the wall members V 'of said door, :and .means in f operative engagerment :with said lock` bar.- .and projecting .outfward'ly through #the wall members of said door ,and rar-ranged within `said .channels whereby said locliingjbar maybe-movedinto :operative :and inoperative positions.

lll. A door structure for cabinetsof .the classi describedfsaid cabinet havin-givertically :arranged channels opening outwardly `with grespect-tofzthe front, of the-cabinet, said` door `having ginwar'dly directed .wall `members -iadapted to pass intosaidchannels.andof a f avidth substantially equal to the .width of. the side walls of said channelswa lockib'ar movably mounted iin connection .with l.the inner 'iiaces Iof 1 each of `the wall .membersi of said door, :means inoperati-ve engagement 4.with rsaid loek bar ,and projecting .outwardly through the `wallmembersf-of-said Ldoor. and :arranged --within .saidtchannels ,whereby said clothing bar 4may -bemoved into operativeY and yfinolienative y positions, .andE `said locking .bars fhiaving-/spaced f coupling `pins :adaptedtoven- .'gfa'gei-reoessesiformedinfoneofthe .side walls cof-each of said channelstoiirmlly securethe door in closed position. i

115. :A `doorstructure -tforcabinets of the .class described, said cabinet-having.vertical- ,fly 'arranged channelsopening outwardlywith :respect :,'towthe frontot thee-cabinet, said. door `having inwardly directed iw-all members adapted to passkinto :sa-idvichannels. and. of a width snbstanti-allyequal. to the width of. the side walls-ofsaid channelsa1lock.bar movably `mounted in connection Awith A.the .inner :facescof leach-oi' the iwallimembers -otvsaid f. door, means :in -.operative. engagement with said lock bar ,and projecting outwardly ithrough the .wall members o-said door. and --ernanged-.withinsaid channels kwhereby said .flockingfbar fmay vbe lmoved, into .operative and TID lit

inoperative positions, said locking bars having spaced, coupling pins adapted to engage recesses formed in one of the Side walls of each of said channels to firmly secure the door in closed position, and a sealing pad arranged in the bottom of said channels and in connection with which the inner ends of the side wall members of the door operate.

16. A door structure for cabinets of the class described, said cabinet having vertically arranged channels opening outwardly with respect to the front of the cabinet, said door having inwardly directed wall members adapted to pass into said channels and of a width substantially equal to the Width of the side walls of said channels, a lock bar movably mounted in connection With the inner faces of each of the wall members of said door, means in operative engagement with said lock bar and projecting outwardly through the wall members of said door and arranged within said channels whereby said locking bar may be moved into operative and inoperative positions, said locking bars having spaced, coupling pins adapted to engage recesses formed in one of the side Walls of each of said channels to irmly secure the door in closed position, a sealing pad arranged in the bottom of said channels and in connection with which the inner ends of the side wall members of the door operate, and means for supporting and guiding the door in its movement with respect to the cabinet, said means comprising a housing arranged at the front top portion of the cabinet and a plurality of ball castors coupled with the upper end of the door and arranged to move Within said housings.

17. In a cabinet of the class described, a door for closing the front open end of the cabinet, said door being movable toward and from the front end of the cabinet and longitudinally with respect thereto and including inwardly directed side walls, and means arranged within and adjacent the side walls of the door and substantially concealed therein and cooperating with the cabinet for moving the door into firm engagement with the cabinet and to permit the release of the door therefrom.

18. In a cabinet of the class described, a door for closing the front open end of the cabinet, said door being movable toward and from the front end of the cabinet and longi- .u tudinally with respect thereto and including inwardly directed side walls, and means arranged within and adjacent the side walls of the doorl and substantially concealed therein and cooperating with the cabinet for moving the door into firm engagement with the cabinet and to permit the release of the door therefrom, said means involving lock bar arranged in parallel relation to the side walls of the door and including operating members accessible outwardly of said side walls and adapted to be engaged by tools for moving said bars into operative and inoperative positions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 17th day of December, 1929.

HARRY F. BEER-S. 

